Big Strides is a London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 based 3-piece band that plays an original mix of blues, rock, jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 and funk

Funk

Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...

. With an original lineup consisting of Marcus O'Neill (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Lewis Kirk (drums) and Tom Pi (double bass), Chris Kelly replaced Tom Pi as double bassist in 2006.

Their first album "Small Town, Big Strides" was released in 2005 on their own label, Tall Order Records. The first single "Suicidal" notched up 300,000 downloads in the USA and prompted Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...

 on BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...

 to comment "I can't decide if I love it or if it upsets me".

After regular appearances at Ronnie Scott's, tours of the UK and performances at Glastonbury, they first went to Japan in 2006 to play at Summer Sonic, following a sudden rush of import album sales. Their second album "Cry It All Out" was picked up for release in Japan (EMI

EMI

The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...

) and Germany (India/ Rough Trade).

The breadth and variety of Big Strides' influences has seen them support a wide range of artists including Roy Ayers

Roy Ayers

Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...

, Horace Andy

Horace Andy

Horace Andy is a roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as "Government Land", "Angel", "Five Man Army" and a cover version of "Ain't No Sunshine"....

, Damien Rice

Damien Rice

Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....

, Bloc Party

Bloc Party

Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...

 and Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...

.

Albums

Album information
Small Town, Big Strides Released: June 6, 2005 (UK) April 4, 2007 (Japan) Produced by Dan Swift Singles: "Suicidal", "I Do Not Fear Jazz"
Cry It All Out Released: September 25, 2006 (UK) October 4, 2006 (Japan) Produced by Dan Swift Singles: "Let's Get Nice", "Smiling", "Always Together", "Whisky"
Super Custom Limited Released: November 17, 2008 (UK) Produced by Dan Swift Singles: "Hen Night Limousine (Digital Only)",

Singles

Single information
Suicidal Released: Radiotone November 29, 2004 (UK) Other Tracks: "Carfire", "Back To The Lemon"
I Do Not Fear Jazz Released: Tall Order Records September 19, 2005 (UK) Other Tracks: "Cookies — Donald's Theme ", "Better (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)", "Bob Weissfeldner's Album Trailer "
Let's Get Nice Released: Tall Order Records March 27, 2006 (UK) Other Tracks: "Brudenell Groove", "Sad Songs"
Smiling Released: Tall Order Records September 11, 2006 (UK) Other Tracks: "Seeya Then", "1000 Sleeps"
Always Together Released: Tall Order Records February 26, 2007 (UK) Other Tracks: "What's Wrong With Lucy", "Soundcheck Bitch"
She Drinks Whisky Released: Tall Order Records July 9, 2007 (UK) Other Tracks: "Winter Sunlight", "Sour Cream"
Hen Night Limousine Released: Tall Order Records November 17, 2008 (UK)